How did the great compromise settle the problem of representation in congress
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, settled the problem of representation in Congress by creating a bicameral legislature with two separate chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Initially, two plans were proposed at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 to determine the structure of representation in Congress. The Virginia Plan, put forward by large states, favored a congressional representation system based solely on a state's population. On the other hand, the New Jersey Plan, proposed by small states, advocated for equal representation for each state, disregarding population size.
The Great Compromise, put forth by Roger Sherman of Connecticut, aimed to reach a middle ground between these two opposing views. It recommended that representation in the House of Representatives would be based on a state's population, satisfying the larger states, while each state would have an equal vote in the Senate, addressing the concerns of the smaller states. This arrangement ensured that both population size and state sovereignty were accounted for.
As a result, the House of Representatives became the chamber representing the interests of the people, with the number of representatives from each state determined by its population. In contrast, the Senate became the chamber representing the interests of the states as political entities, with two senators from each state, regardless of population.
The Great Compromise successfully resolved the contentious issue of representation in Congress and was adopted as part of the United States Constitution in 1787. This compromise played a crucial role in achieving a balance between the interests of the larger and smaller states, promoting unity and cooperation among the states during the formation of the new nation.